Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Boarding Area B

Vital Modernization Brings the Spirit of the Bay Area to the Region’s Largest Airport

Comprehensive upgrades to the outdated 1960’s facility encompass both its reconstruction and the addition of a 25-gate concourse to serve international and domestic operations. Incorporating next-generation building systems, the design anticipates forecasted leaps in traffic, aviation trends and the potential effects of rising sea levels. True to the values of its locale, the project is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification. This terminal elevates the passenger experience and the very idea of how an airport can perform.

The design of Boarding Area B creates a calm and curated journey from security to airside with improved passenger circulation and access to gates. Framed by high ceilings and abundant natural light, the generous central concourse features a new arrangement of intuitive wayfinding, advanced acoustics, controllable LED fixtures, art galleries, integrated technology, comfortable furnishings and food halls.

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With a focus on local restaurateurs and regional products, the concessions program deploys a human scale in the concourse to replicate a street market. The mezzanine above offers sweeping views to the airline lounges housed on that level. A corridor allows international arrivals to proceed seamlessly to the adjoining wing of the International Terminal.

In addition to Zero Net Energy use, the airport’s leadership has set an ambitious goal of also achieving carbon neutrality and zero waste going to landfills. To that Triple Zero end, the project takes advantage of every innovation available, beginning with repurposing the existing Boarding Area B. Materials and systems were selected to have the least environmental impact, like carbon-sequestering concrete and nontoxic carpet tiles and finishes. Other features include a sophisticated baggage carousel and photovoltaic panels on the roof, which has been beta-tested at the airport’s other structures to generate the energy required for operations in the future. Radiant heating and cooling and five-carbon filter air filtration are both more efficient and make for a more comfortable environment. Integrated Building Management infrastructure will track these elements together, measuring energy and water use and adjusting equipment to optimal levels. When completed, the project will achieve a 70 percent reduction in energy use compared to other airports while accommodating 70 percent more passengers than the previous facility.

Emphasizing hospitality, the plan reimagines what a hold room can be. Instead of the traditional rows of identical seats, comfortable chaise lounge chairs are placed next to the main thoroughfare, beside groupings of chairs and high-top worktables—giving a range of seating choices. Floor-to-ceiling windows across the boarding area have sensors to change tint depending on light conditions, boosting comfort at all hours and reducing the need for air conditioning or artificial light.

Invoking the theme of “Bay Area Naturalism,” crafted materials like wood and stone flank passenger paths to conceive a tactility that is unmistakable of its place. In addition to celebrating the terminal’s namesake Civil Rights leader, Harvey Milk, site-specific murals and sculptures throughout showcase the region’s diverse culture. Those bolder interventions contrast with the neutral background color palette, helping to orient travelers within an overall sense of spaciousness.

Client

San Francisco International Airport

Status

Construction

Location

San Francisco, California

Completion Date

2020

Size

46,000 square meters; 500,000 square feet

Collaborators

HKS

ED2

KYA

Mimicking a street market, travelers can shop local restaurateurs and products.

Mimicking a street market, travelers can shop local restaurateurs and products.

Intuitive wayfinding, advanced acoustics and controllable LED fixtures enable flyers to easily walk through the concourse.

A streamlined corridor with walkways allows arrivals to proceed seamlessly to the adjoining wing.